Helping to Drive Senior Transportation Limitations Away

Veda Vann: Helping to Drive Senior Transportation Limitations Away

Fontana, Calif.- Across the country more than half of all non-drivers 65 and older stay home in a given day, because they don't have transportation options, according to seniorliving.org. This contributes to social isolation, which is a big problem for seniors that don't drive. However, City of Fontana Senior Transportation Specialist, Veda Vann, is making it her mission to help drive statistics like this away.

Van isn't only a part of her name; it's a part of her career. Veda spends her workday supervising eight Senior Van Drivers and two Dispatch Van Drivers at the Fontana Community Senior Center. She organizes the drivers' daily schedules for them to chauffeur seniors to locations within city limits. Locations include doctor's offices, shopping centers and fitness facilities. Veda also assists customers with questions regarding transportation services.

Veda thoroughly enjoys planning excursions for the seniors to locations they have never been before. "When they return, they will let me know how much they enjoyed themselves or didn’t enjoy themselves. Seeing them express themselves is a good feeling and rewarding in its own way," she states.

The City of Fontana is home to this resident of 15 years, and working at the Senior Center is the perfect opportunity to give back to her community and the individuals that may be in need of services. When it comes to her love of working with seniors, Veda says that she has "gotten attached to a lot of the seniors that come here. When I come to work and I hear the seniors yelling my name down the hall and making them laugh brings me joy especially if I am having a bad day."

In her 6 years with the City, she is most proud of her role in the expansion of senior transportation services from 40,000 trips a year to approximately 51,000. "Helping make the transportation service expand means that we are helping a great deal of seniors and disabled customers get to their medical appointment, stores and to the senior center."

Outside of work, you can find Veda at the Brunswick Bowling Alley, bowling her way to a perfect 300.

For more information about the Senior Transportation Program, please call Veda Vann at (909) 854-5175 or visit www.fontana.org.

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